STOP
No. 2

The Clinton Exchange

4 Clinton Square, Syracuse, NY 13202

The Clinton Exchange was built in 1928 as a U.S. Post Office
and Federal building. It is a
prime example of the refined Neo-Classical architecture often used in the
design of public buildings between1900-1940. It was originally designed to border the Erie Canal on its
south side. Before construction
was completed, however, the canal had been filled in and replaced by a
boulevard. The only design change
allowed was an entrance on Erie Boulevard. In 1985, the 170,000-square-foot building was converted to
office space. With a focus on
restoration rather than renovation, care was taken to preserve plaster
ceilings, marble floors, staircases and columns.

Before 1832, Syracuse was a small crossroads better known as
Bogardus Corners. It is only due to the imagination of one of its earliest well
known inhabitants, John Wilkinson, that it did not keep that name.

While visiting a friend in New York City, Wilkinson was browsing
in the library of his host when he came across an English poem that had won the
chancellor’s prize at the University of Oxford in England. The poem described a beautiful nymph
seen bathing by a local hunter who immediately fell in love with her. He pursued her to the island of Ortygia
at Syracuse in Sicily, where the goddess Diana changed her into a fountain to
protect her. Mr. Wilkinson found a
remarkable likeness between his city and the fountain and city described in the
poem. They were relatively the same size and their bodies of water
were each bordered by salt springs.
Coincidently, both towns had a northern border town called Salina and
the island of Ortygia was first conquered by a General Marcellus.

Upon his return home, Wilkinson got a committee together and
proposed the new name. It was then
voted on and accepted.